Es. Debus et al., PHYSICAL, BIOLOGICAL AND HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS OF SURGICAL SUTURE MATERIAL - A COMPARISON OF 4 DIFFERENT MULTIFILAMENT ABSORBABLE SUTURES, European surgical research, 29(1), 1997, pp. 52-61
Objective: Four different braided absorbable surgical materials (Dexon
(R), Dexon II Bicolor(R), Vicryl(R) and Polysorb(R)) 2/0 USP, which ba
sically share the same indications, were studied in vitro and in vivo
with regard to their physical properties as well as tissue compatibili
ty and surgical handling. Analyzing the results the authors tried to d
etermine the most useful suture in surgical practice. Method: Physical
tests to determine tensile strength, knot-breaking strength and knot
security were carried out. Additionally an in vivo model (Wistar rat)
was used to compare histocompatibility and loss of function due to hyd
rolytic resorption. Furthermore, a handling test was carried gut by tr
ained surgeons. Results: Polysorb had the highest linear tensile stren
gth but also the fastest loss of function following tissue implantatio
n: whereas Vicryl showed the slowest loss of function. Similar results
were obtained with regard to the knot-breaking strength. After pulsat
ile stressing Dexon II Bicolor and Dexon showed the highest irreversib
le elongation followed by Vicryl and Polysorb. Polysorb had the best k
notting characteristics, scoring highest also in the handling study. C
onclusions: The authors conclude that with Polysorb all features and p
roperties of braided suture material have reached a high level of qual
ity. This suture combines the positive characteristics of monofilament
with those of multifilament materials, thus coming closest to being t
he ''optimal suture'.